Few questions

[doug1980]

Was wondering how many accounts you solo guys average per week? What can one person realistically do in a 8 hr workday? Also after fuel, equipment, loans etc... is it really worth the hard work. Now for those that have a crew. Same questions. Is it worth the headache of having a crew? To me it seems that after you pay their salaries, extra ins, buy more equipment you are not making that much more than if you stayed solo. Am I way off?

__________________
Former Air Force Staff Sergeant
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT Ext. Cab
Toro 21" Super Recycler
Poulan Pro 22" (backup mower)
Stihl FS 55 (trimmer)
Stihl FS 45 (backup trimmer)
Stihl BG 56 (blower)
Stihl 17 (chain saw) "oldie but goodie"
Stihl MS 210 (chain saw)

Still Need:
6'x12' Trailer
Toro 36" Walk Behind
Stihl FC 75 (edger)
Stihl HS 81 (hedge trimmer)

[BREEZE2009]

I do lawn maintenance solo for now, other projects I hire crew.

It all depends on what time you start & want to finish, if your just starting new customers, what not.

The first week, all my customers had a mess of grass so the day lasted pretty long.

Once the first cut was done, personally I like to start my first lawn at 8am, & finish the day before 2pm.

With driving around, the route is pretty tight, I can manage about 10 lawns & still have time to relax & have the rest of the afternoon/evening off.

Time: 6 hours
Lawns cut: 10

[doug1980]

Originally Posted by BREEZE2009

I do lawn maintenance solo for now, other projects I hire crew.

It all depends on what time you start & want to finish, if your just starting new customers, what not.

The first week, all my customers had a mess of grass so the day lasted pretty long.

Once the first cut was done, personally I like to start my first lawn at 8am, & finish the day before 2pm.

With driving around, the route is pretty tight, I can manage about 10 lawns & still have time to relax & have the rest of the afternoon/evening off.

Time: 6 hours
Lawns cut: 10

So 10 yards a day at lets say $40.00 each times 5 days that's $2,000.00/week. Not bad, not bad at all. I can live on that.

[BREEZE2009]

I worked for a company, so I will try to answer your question for having crew.

SOLO
Time: 6 hours
Lawns Cut: 10
Profit: Let's just say each customer is worth $500.00, you would make $5000.00

2 MAN CREW
Time: 6 hours
Lawns Cut: 20+
Profit: $10,000.00+

You pay your worker minimum wage, they will probably make $6000.00+/6 months.

So right away you only have $4000.00 left over for other junk.

My goal is to have 150 clients & hire help, let's say again $500.00/client

$75,000.00

We'd have to do 30 lawns a day 5 days a week. 9 hours a day.

I'd have to pay them $10,000.00+ /6 month, i'd still have $65,000.00!!!

[BREEZE2009]

Originally Posted by doug1980

So 10 yards a day at lets say $40.00 each times 5 days that's $2,000.00/week. Not bad, not bad at all. I can live on that.

Nope! More like;

$40.00 per cut multiplied by 4 weeks(month) = $160.00/month multiplied by 6 months (season) = $960.00/customer

$960.00 x 10 customers = $9,600.00

$9,600.00 per season.

You'd have however $1,600.00 per month

[doug1980]

Originally Posted by BREEZE2009

Nope! More like;

$40.00 per cut multiplied by 4 weeks(month) = $160.00/month multiplied by 6 months (season) = $960.00/customer

$960.00 x 10 customers = $9,600.00

$9,600.00 per season.

You'd have however $1,600.00 per month

Huh?? I meant 50 clients total each week. (10 per day) So 50 clients times $40.00= $2,000.00/week or $8,000.00/month times 6 months= $48,000.00

[turfmaster]

--> Your better off building your business as a solo operation at first.
Make sure you have some sort of back up plan in case you get injured or go on vacation. Have someone who can step in and cover your accounts.
For other services such as cleanups you can hire a helper.